MEMORIAL DAY, 2015 ~ To Honor Our Veterans

This in presentation at the Memorial Day Community Event, Monday, May 25, 2015, Lions Club, Lions Park, Blauvelt, New York at the noon hour.

Memorial Day, 2015

And what be this poet's plea 
But to honor our Veterans from sea to sea

To know that All and One are given in grace
And in gratitude be our care, our loving embrace
Stars and galaxies, vistas of splendor and glory
Within the secrets, the miracles of Creation's story
Stardust in waves of time and space
From which our spirit we to trace
Light beholden within our heart
From where love and freedom have their primal start
Known be the fire of the Creator's flame
And we the Presence of All so named
Words to hold to the knowing of heart and soul 
Reverent be our gratitude, our calling toll

And what be this poet's plea
But to honor our Veterans from sea to sea

With Freedom's call, valor in praise be heard 
For the spoils of victory and liberation's word 
Hushed be the oppressive cry in anguish known
With Faith and noble deed in valor shown
This the dedication of those with freedom's vision held clear
And so our gratitude to the sons and daughters whose sacrifices we ever to hold dear
It has been said no words can explain the wages of war we do spend
But for the freedoms and rights we are to defend
For those given to liberation and freedom's call
Blessed Be they who have given their All 
So let us with open hearts and grace
Live the divinity of gratitude within heart's place
Tears with loss of life we do shed and share
Yet know that in valor, souls soar high ever in God's embrace and care.

And what be this poet's plea
But to honor our Veterans from sea to sea.

Rose Marie Raccioppi
Poet Laureate
Orangetown, New York